Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Letter from John Vucetich, wildlife ecologist: Reasons to oppose SB288

Photo of wolf courtesy Wolfwatcher.org. Reprinted with permission.

By John Vucetich

HANCOCK -- John Vucetich, Michigan Tech associate professor of wildlife ecology and co-director of the Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Study, has submitted a written testimony to be included in legislative hearings related to Senate Bill 288, which was recently passed by the Michigan Senate Committee on Natural Resources and is expected to pass the Michigan Senate, possibly this week. Vucetich, who has authored more than 75 scholarly publications on a range of topics -- including wolf-prey ecology, extinction risk, and the human dimensions of natural resource management, says he expresses his views in the letter as a citizen of Michigan with that expertise and the views are not necessarily those of his employer.

Keweenaw Now received permission to publish excerpts from this letter, in which Vucetich says SB288 should be opposed for five main reasons, which we summarize here:

SB288: less science, less democracy in wildlife management

1. The best-available scholarship provides an exceedingly clear explanation that good wildlife management is a judicious balance between best-available science and democratic principles. SB288 would make wildlife management less democratic and less scientific. (author's emphasis) In particular, SB288 gives new management authority to Michigan’s Natural Resources Commission (NRC). While the NRC has a valuable role in natural resource management, it is not especially well-versed in the science of wildlife management; and NRC decisions are considerably more insulated from the will of citizens.

Also, wildlife and other natural resources are a public trust, which means that every citizen has an interest and voice in the management of natural resources. By contrast, the NRC has a strong tendency to represent hunters’ interests at the expense of representing the interests of most Michiganders who are not hunters. Hunting is an honorable tradition, and the voice of hunters is valuable. However, expanding the authority to the NRC with the ability to name which species of animals can be hunted is a betrayal of the public trust doctrine.

2) A ballot initiative process to determine what citizens of Michigan think about Public Act 520, which lists the wolf as a game species, has been underway for the past few months. That process has already gained many more signatures than required to result in a referendum vote that would occur in November 2014. Michiganders have democratically earned the right to this kind of referendum. The primary purpose of SB288 is to abort this process. However, the bill does not acknowledge that purpose or even attempt to offer reasons to think that wolf hunting is more important than basic principles of democracy. For these reasons, SB288 is deceptive to a degree that is fundamentally antithetical to democracy. (author's emphasis)

3) The North American Model of Wildlife Management is essentially a set of seven principles held in high esteem by many hunting organizations and wildlife professionals including, as I understand it, many members of the NRC and Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). The reasons given above suggest that SB288 would work against three of those seven principles: Principle1, whereby wildlife is to be held in the public trust; Principle 3, whereby management is to be determined through basic democratic principles; and Principle 7, whereby management is to be faithful to the best-available science.*

In November 2010 at the Portage Lake District Library, Dr. John Vucetich, Michigan Tech University professor of wildlife ecology, participated in an environmental ethics discussion led by Michael Nelson, resident philosopher of the Isle Royale Wolf/Moose project. Here Vucetich reads from his contribution to Nelson's book of essays, MORAL GROUND: Ethical Action for a Planet in Peril. (File photo by Keweenaw Now)

Management principle 5: Adequate reason needed for hunting wildlife

4) Controversy over SB288 is also troubling because it distracts from a much deeper problem: a tendency for advocates of SB288 to advocate wolf hunting, and for detractors of SB288 to oppose wolf hunting. Many advocates for wolf hunting believe that opposition is just one element of a much larger social force to abolish all forms of hunting. In support of their concern, these citizens remind us of the 2006 referendum that precludes sport hunting of mourning doves in Michigan. On the other side of the issue, some opponents of wolf hunting believe that SB288 and wolf hunting represent a path to allowing many cruel and thoughtless forms of hunting.

Citizens on both sides of this issue accuse those on the other side of relying on human and financial resources from outside the state of Michigan in support of their cause. Both sides are correct on this point. However, concerns about big money interfering with politics distract from a serious problem; that is, as a society, we have lost the ability to understand the true value of hunting. Principle #5 of the North American Model states that wildlife should not be killed for "frivolous use." Stated more straightforwardly, we should not kill a living creature without an adequate reason.

Judging what does and does not count as an adequate reason is a responsibility that good hunters take quite seriously. There is legitimate concern that advocates of wolf hunting have failed to offer adequate reasons for hunting wolves. This testimony is not the place to review all the reasons that have been offered. It is sufficient to observe that (i) nearly a quarter million citizens of Michigan, in signing a petition to take Public Act 520 to referendum vote, believe that adequate reasons have not been offered, and (ii) sociological research indicates that non-hunting citizens tend to support hunting when the purpose of a hunt is adequately justified.

The referendum of November 2014 is a critically important opportunity for advocates to provide adequate reasoning for wolf hunting. Plenty of time exists between now and next November to make the best possible case. SB 288 should be opposed because it seems to work against principle #5 of the North American Model and thus fails to honor the good reputation of hunting.

Questions on MDNR goals of wolf harvest

5) Good wildlife management demands good answers to these three questions: What is the goal of any proposed wildlife management action? How will that goal be accomplished? Why is the goal appropriate? My concern is that advocates for wolf hunting have not provided adequate answers to those questions.

This concern is illustrated by the memo submitted by the MDNR to the NRC (April 2, 2013), which explains the details of a proposed wolf harvest. The memo states that a purpose of the proposed wolf harvest is to protect human safety. Threats to human safety, when they occur, had better be dealt with swiftly, precisely, thoroughly and immediately. Protecting human safety cannot wait until the upcoming hunting season, with the subsequent hope that some hunter has the good fortune to kill the offending wolf. If genuine human safety concerns are dealt with appropriately then offending and potentially offending wolves would either be dead or living with plenty of fear of humans by the time the next hunting season rolls around. I do not quite see how a harvest is an appropriate way to promote human safety in any appreciable manner.

The memo also implies that the goal of the harvest is to reduce the number of complaints (of nuisance wolves) received by the MDNR. It should not be taken for granted that the number of complaints is an adequate indicator of threats to human safety.

Other key aspects of the memo can be criticized in a similar manner. If wolf hunting is to be good wildlife management, there is a need to evaluate more rigorously whether adequate answers exist for this constellation of questions -- What? How? and Why? And, that evaluation needs to occur in a manner that is accountable to the citizens of Michigan. SB288 seems to work against these interests.

1 comment:

It may be the cure for this will have to be a Michigan constitutional amendment, that prevents attached appropriations from disallowing veto resolutions for nonbudgeting laws, restores the effect of valid veto resolutions already submitted, and which for a period of 90 days following passage "resets the clock" on laws passed using this ploy, so that petition signatures can be gathered to suspend those laws until the 2016 elections.

Keweenaw March for Our Lives is Saturday, March 24

Logo courtesy marchforourlives.com

At noon on Saturday, March 24, a Keweenaw March for Our Lives will be held on the Portage Lift Bridge to show support for changing gun laws to protect our students and schools. This event is taking place in solidarity with the March for Our Lives planned for the same day in Washington DC. Prior to the March, participants will gather below the Bridge on the west side near the old Aspirus building next to Roy's bakery. Marchers are welcome to bring signs. For more information contract Erin Burkett (248-514-9759, erinmburkett@ gmail.com) or visit fb.me/ KeweenawMarchforOurLives. March For Our Lives is created, inspired, and led by students across the country who are acting to stop the epidemic of school shootings -- the third leading cause of death for American children. Students, teachers, families, and allies are marching across the nation to demand better gun regulations. An average of 23 children are shot every day. For more information visit marchforourlives.com.

An Informational Meeting and Poster-Making Session will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. this Saturday, March 17, at the Portage Lake District Library in Houghton. Some poster-making materials will be provided, but feel free to bring your own supplies to use and share. Come meet your fellow marchers and create your own unique sign to carry during the march! Information about march-day logistics will be shared by the event organizers. This is an open event. Stop by anytime between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Hosted by Keweenaw March for Our Lives.

Contra Dances in Hancock

International School of Art and Design Alumni Exhibit 2018 opens at Finlandia University Gallery

Josh Jaehnig, Birds of a Feather, 2018, Watercolor and ink.

The Finlandia University Gallery will host Finlandia's International School of Art and Design Alumni Exhibit 2018 from Feb. 22 - March 20. The Alumni 2018 exhibit spotlights the current work of 25 Finlandia BFA graduates. The Gallery is located in the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock. Click here for details.

Featured Post

This photo taken in the winter of 2017 shows Gypsy Creek downstream, east of one of Copperwood Resources' 2017 drill sites inside Porc...

+News Briefs / Announcements

The Sustaining Lake Superior Book Talk by Nancy Langston -- originally scheduled for Tuesday, March 6, at Portage Lake District Library -- has been cancelled because of a death in the family. It will be re-scheduled for later this spring.......The Portage Lake District Library invites children and their families to meet Harley, Ruby and Hope as the library begins a new program for children who are learning how to read. Beginning Wednesday, March 7, three gentle dogs will be available every Wednesday from 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. for kids to read out loud to. The dogs are trained and registered with Therapy Dogs International and with SuperiorLand Pet Partners. Children can gain confidence and build reading skills by reading at their own pace to a very loving, non-judgmental, and attentive listener. Children may bring a book from home or school or choose one from the library that they want to read to one of the dogs. There will be books to read and coloring pages for kids to use while they wait for their turn to read to a dog. This program will take place every Wednesday through May. The summer and fall schedules will be announced at a later date. Library events are free and everyone is welcome. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit pldl.org.......The Hancock Board of Review will meet at Hancock City Hall on the following dates/times:March 13, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. March 15, 9 a.m. - noon and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. If you have any questions prior to Board of Review, please contact Assessor Laura Erhart at Erhart Assessing: Phone:906-358-0504 or Email: assessor@cityofhancock.net......Portage Library and Michigan Tech are again offering free computer and digital device assistance for beginners. Building Adult Skills in Computers (BASIC) will be presented by Michigan Tech Computer Science students at 9 a.m. every Saturday this Spring semester except during MTU breaks and holidays. Students will show participants how to use the internet to keep in touch with people, share pictures and letters, find information, solve computer problems, and much more. Tutors will help each participant with his or her own particular needs. People may attend as many of the sessions as they wish. Bring your own laptop or other digital device or feel free to use library computers. Library programs are free and everyone is welcome. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit the library at www.pldl.org and on Facebook. .....The Superior AmeriCorps Book Club for Kids will continue throughout the school year from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month at Portage Lake District Library. Kids ages 3 through 9 are invited for stories, cookie decorating, crafts, games, and more. Library programs are free and everyone is welcome. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570.......Portage Lake District Library Storytimes are at 10:15 a.m. every Wednesday and Thursday. The Library also invites children and their families to participate in Storytimes from 11 a.m. to noon on the second and fourth Saturday of each month throughout the school year. These programs are presented by members of the Houghton High School Key Club. Storytime includes listening to stories and making a craft. Everyone is welcome and all programs are free. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570.......HEET (Houghton Energy Efficiency Team)has posted videos on renewable energy in the Upper Peninsula. Check out their Energy Forum here.......Do you participate in a book group? The Portage Lake District Library is creating a list of local book groups for all ages and would like to hear about yours. Useful information includes the name of your group and contact person, a theme if you have one, and dates and time that you meet. Please also say if your book group is for adults, teens, or grade school students. For more information, please call Chris at the library at 482-4570.

Dance Zone Marquette

Click on logo above for the schedule of dance events and lessons at Dance Zone.

Kids, parents enjoy 2018 Barneløpet ski race at Maasto Hiihto

Skiers of all ages take off for the 11th annual non-competitive Barneløpet ski race on Feb. 11. (Photo courtesy Arlyn Aronson)

Kids and parents braved a chilly, windy Sunday, Feb.11, for the 11th annual Barneløpet children's ski race at Maasto Hiihto -- hosted by the Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club, Sons of Norway, and the City of Hancock and sponsored by Portage Health Auxiliary. Click on photo above for more photos of the event taken by Maasto groomer Arlyn Aronson.

Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club

HKCD 2018 Tree Sale is May 5

Pre-order pre-pay only for orders over $200. Everything else is on May 5, first come - first served. Click on poster for larger version. (Poster courtesy Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District)

The tree sale catalog is now available HERE. For more info click on above poster or email sueh6681@gmail.com or call Sue at 906-482-0214.

Slide Show: Sister March: Jan. 21, 2018

Click on above photo to access our new slide show of the Sister March. Click on this lead bridge photo in the slide show. Click info icons for captions. Follow arrows to the right to follow the march.

Slide Show: Art, Culture, Oct.-Nov. 2017

From arts and crafts to film and dance, Keweenaw Now's SLIDE SHOW: Art, Culture Oct. - Nov. 2017 presents photo highlights of art and cultural events we attended in the Copper Country during the fall of 2017. Click on the above photo of Ginger and Mike at the opening of their SewCranky shop in Hancock and follow the right arrows to see all the photos. Info icon gives you the captions.

New book by Nancy Langston

New book by Cyndi Perkins

New Novel by Kristin Neva

"Copper Country" is the second novel in Kristin Neva's Copper Island Series. Click on book cover to go to the Amazon.com page for the book. (Book cover courtesy Kristin Neva)

Copper Country, by Keweenaw author Kristin Neva, is the second novel in her Copper Island Series, following Snow Country (see ad below). Two main characters, Aimee and Russ, appear in both novels. Neva continues to describe life in the Keweenaw, including the influence of Finnish names and culture. Click on book cover image above to learn more or purchase the book on Amazon.com.

"Snow Country" -- A Copper Island Novel

Set on the Keweenaw Peninsula, this inspirational novel features contemporary Finnish-American and Yooper culture while exploring themes of love, loss and faith.

Mining Action Group (formerly Save the Wild UP)

The Mining Action Group -- previously known as Save the Wild U.P. and now part of the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition (UPEC) -- is a volunteer, grassroots effort to defend the clean water and wild places of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula from the dangers of sulfide mining.

Friends of the Land of Keweenaw

Portage Lake District Library

Click on logo above for a link to the Portage Library's new Winter 2018 newsletter and click on Events for the current calendar.

Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts

Finlandia University

Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve

Chauncey Moran, Yellow Dog RIVERKEEPER, recently conducted an aerial survey of the Salmon Trout and Yellow Dog River watersheds, scanning the landscape and waterways for mining activity and other land use issues. Both watersheds were surveyed via airplane and Moran reports that there are 7 total exploratory drilling operations that are currently active. All 7 of those are occurring directly east of Eagle Mine within a relatively short distance of the portal. This location has been called Eagle East and represents a plausible location for additional mineral deposits. No other active drilling elsewhere in the watersheds was noted during the flight. YDWP will continue to fly and conduct monitoring of this activity in order to inform concerned community members. Click on logo above for more news.

Midnight in the Pawn Shop

Deborah Frontiera, author of "Living on Sisu," has recently published this short novel for mature readers. Click on book cover above for more info. (Photo courtesy Deborah Frontiera)

Offer from Houghton Keweenaw County Genealogical Society

Book cover designed by Avis L. West of Houghton Keweenaw County Genealogical Society. Photograph courtesy Michigan Technological University Archives.

This publication by the Houghton Keweenaw County Genealogical Society (HKCGS) can be yours for free with a minimum $50 donation to the Italian Hall Memorial Fund. The book tells about the families of Italian Hall victims and includes historic photos. If you wish to donate and receive a copy of the book, please click on book cover above for the HKCGS order form, complete the form, print it and mail it to the address on the form. See story about the memorial and other ways to donate here.

Waste Management Garbage and Recycling new schedule for Hancockstarted on Sept. 12, 2016.- All items need to be out by 7 a.m.-Weekly same day pick up for garbage and recycling (using a new dual garbage truck)-Pick Up Day Change affects some neighborhoods:-East of Elevation Street will be on Monday.-West of Elevation Street will be on Wednesday.*Pick up for residents living on Elevation, S. Elevation and N. Elevation Streets will be on WEDNESDAY.-Any container will work for recycling. Some people are painting or taping (recycling) on the bins they now use or you can purchase a new recycling bin from McGann’s or Risto’s.-Single stream will continue for all items including glass and clean pizza boxes!-Service is also available to small commercial.-The City still has a recycling drop off at the DPW Garage (1601 Tomasi Drive)QUESTIONS: Call Bill Marlor, DPW, 482-1480 or Glenn Anderson, City Manager, 482-1121.Click here for Waste Management's new list of acceptable and unacceptable items for recycling.Thank you for your participation.

Copyright Policy

For our copyright policy, please click here or email us if you wish to use any of the photos or video clips by Keweenaw Now. Photos by guest photographers are copyrighted and you must seek their permission for re-use. This policy applies to the photos in our slide shows as well. Please do not share photos taken by guest photographers without their permission.

Slide Show: Christmas in Calumet 2016

Click on the photo above to see our slide show of Calumet on Dec. 3: the Poor Artists Sale, Santa, and art gallery exhibits. Click on any photo and follow the arrows. To read captions, click on the info icon.

Slide Shows: Family fun with science, more ...

Our recent slide shows highlight the Keweenaw Science and Engineering Festival (KSEF) and Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) community events held Aug. 4 - 6, 2016; the 2016 Keweenaw Science Fair winners honored by Carnegie Museum; and the Lake Superior Celebration at GLRC in April 2016.

The new slide shows can be accessed as follows: Click here or on the photo above for the slide show of the Aug. 5, 2016, Keweenaw Water Festival at Michigan Tech's Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC). Click here for the Aug. 4 and Aug. 6 Keweenaw Science and Engineering (KSEF) family events held in Houghton's Kestner Waterfront Park, and click here for photos of some 2016 Science Fair winners and highlights of the April 26, 2016, Lake Superior Celebration sponsored by the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, Michigan STEM Partnership, the Copper Country Recycling Initiative and more. For each slide show, click on the first photo in the album and click the info icon in the top right corner for the caption. Then click on forward arrows to view the photos as a slide show.

Eagle Rock, 2010: Slide show

In May 2010, concerned Native and non-Native citizens camped, prayed and planted a garden at Eagle Rock, an Ojibwa sacred site, which was blasted for the portal to the Rio-Tinto-Kennecott Eagle Mine. The mine, now in operation, was sold to Lundin Mining Corporation of Toronto. Click on photo above to access a photo album on Eagle Rock protests in May 2010. Click on the first photo in the album and then on the info icon to view captions if they are not visible on the right. To view the photos as a slide show, click on the forward arrows.

Keweenaw Now is on TWITTER. Scroll down this column to see our latest Tweets.

Houghton County Democratic Party

Peaceful Uprising

Save the Water's Edge

A Rascal's Craft

The poetic musings of Eelu Kiviranta, a Finnish immigrant and self-proclaimed rascal. Side-by-side Finnish with English translation by Lillian Lehto. Introduction by Steve Lehto. Includes "The Copper Country Strike of 1913." Available from Amazon or the translator, 1419 Yosemite, Birmingham, MI 48009, $19.95. Click on cover to see Youtube video.

Distant Drum

Original clothing and wall pieces custom designed and sewn by Andrea Puzakulich in the Keweenaw for 25 years. Distant Drum is located in Hancock's Historic E.L.Wright Bldg. Open most weekday afternoons. Call ahead.

Calumet Art Center

Click above to learn about new classes starting in February 2017.

New edition of book by Steve Lehto

Click on book cover to access Steve's Facebook page on the Italian Hall disaster.

Red Circle Consulting

Mike Lahti at State Farm

Copper Country Community Arts Center

Keweenaw BEST!

Michigan League of Conservation Voters

What Is Sustainable

Author Richard Adrian Reese recounts how his life took a new direction after 9 years of simple living in the Keweenaw -- and offers a new worldview for a sustainable future.

Sustainable Keweenaw Resource Center

Welcome to Keweenaw Now!

Welcome to our Keweenaw Now blog. This site, the sequel to the Web site www.keweenawnow.com, officially began on September 1, 2007. The Blogger format allows you, our readers, to comment on any post. Read our articles here and send us your comments and suggestions! Your comment will come to us on email (without showing your email address) and as long as it's not objectionable we will post it on the article page. Please note: Right now the comments do not appear on the home page; but, if you click on the headline of an article, it will go to the article's own (archive) page, where comments do appear and where you can reply to them. Click on the comment link below the article to send us a comment. Sometimes the number of comments is indicated on that link on the home page. It may take some time for it to appear.

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